CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Promoting the opportunities available from greater use of technology in assessment

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Qualifications Wales wishes to award a contract for the provision of services to promote and explain the opportunities available from the use of technology in assessment. This will inform our thinking on a vision for use of eAssessment in qualifications in Wales and how that might affect our regulatory approach.

We are looking for an organisation who will work with us across the next two years to shed light on what can be achieved, what is being achieved in other countries or sectors, and to thereby help ensure that discussions and decisions are informed and enlightened.

We are looking for an organisation that will provide an independent and well-informed view of the opportunities available from using technology in assessment and be prepared to challenge the status quo. As the regulator we need to stay neutral and to give full and balanced consideration to the benefits, risks and issues. We are therefore looking for an organisation with an enthusiastic and independent voice.

We would like to work with an organisation that has a good network with organisations who are developing assessment technologies and with experts who can speak with authority. We would prefer that the organisation does not have any financial links with specific assessment technologies. If this is the case, you will need to demonstrate how any conflict of interest can be avoided in order to be considered. We will also need to know if you are providing advice or consultancy to providers of specific assessment technologies and again how any conflict of interest could be avoided.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=91222.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

The services that we are looking for include:

-Running workshops with senior QW staff to share and promote ideas and to help us to develop our vision for e-assessment in Wales;

-Once we have some clarity on our vision and the opportunities – organising at least one large event for teachers, head-teachers, regional consortia, local authority and Welsh Government officials, awarding bodies and others in the qualifications system – speaking or providing speakers to showcase developments in other countries and industry sectors and to stimulate discussion. This is likely to be in late September and linked to the curriculum consultation;

-Running other sessions or attending other meetings (for example consortia led regional meetings or AoLE (Area of Learning and Experience) groups – to educate and stimulate discussion. These sessions would be at invitation from hosts so cannot be guaranteed. There are 4 education consortia and 6 AoLE groups. In addition, QW runs a Head Teacher reference group and Welsh Government runs a new curriculum programme (with various meeting groups) and there is a separate quarterly meeting for bodies who support the education system in Wales;

-Providing on-going advice to QW management team and qualifications development projects (ad hoc);

-Optionally - evaluation of improved awareness across the education sector;

-Optionally – attending GQ engagement/consultation events on QW proposed high level approach to the development of new qualifications.

We do not know the scale of the work. We may not need the contracted organisation to attend all of the optional meetings. There may also be constraints regarding attendance at meetings arranged by stakeholders.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

QW181956

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:91222)

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice